Socket wrench



y 1, 1952 E. M. CURTIS 2,601,800

SOCKET WRENCH Filed July 19, 1947 lllllll 7lll Emwntor E AR L M G U RTIS (Ittorueg Patented July 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOCKET WRENCH Earl M. Curtis, Pasadena, Calif. Application July 19, 1947, Serial No. 762,158

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a socket wrench which is well adapted for use in confined or restricted spaces, such as are commonl present in motor vehicles, and facilitating the attachment and removal of parts in such situations.

Second, to provide a wrench having these advantages which is adapted for a wide variety of uses.

Further objects relating to details and economics of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

Preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational View of parts of the fan of a motor vehicle and the conventional representation of a radiator, illustrating the manipulation of the wrench of my invention to engage the fan-securing screws;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my wrench with the handle partially broken away;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation thereof with the handle partially broken away;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section on line 44 of Fig. 3

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the socket and of the wrench;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the socket end of an alternative arrangement; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary rear View thereof.

In the accompanying drawing, l represents a fan and 2 the pulley thereof. 3 represents the radiator with which the fan is associated. It will be observed that the space between the fan and the radiator is quite restricted and this is a common condition met with in moter vehicles.

It is quite common in motor vehicles for the fan to be mounted on the pump casing, and owing to the restricted space it is quite general practice to disassemble the pump or parts thereof to provide access to the fan or for replacement of the fan. The wrench of m invention is designed for use in confined spaces such, for example, as that illustrated.

My improved wrench comprises the flat, relatively thin, bar-like handle 4, having its outer end turned forwardly to provide a grip 5. The socket 6 is welded to the forward side of the handle, a fillet of welding material being shown at 1. The socket is positioned in overhanging relation to the end of the handle, see Fig. i, and the end 8 and sides 9 and corresponding superimposed parts l0 and l l of the inner end of the socket are convexly curved, the curves of the parts merging as 2 Claims. (01. 31 -121) 2 is shown in the drawing. This provides a curved guiding heel for the wrench, facilitating the engagement of the wrench with work in confined spaces, for example the heads of the screws l2, for securing the fan to the pulley, see Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 illustrates the manner in which the wrench may be manipulated to engage the screw or screw bolt heads, the wrench being guided along the radiator without injury thereto and slipped over the bolt heads. The forwardly projecting grip enables manipulation of the wrench in confined spaces without injury to the workman. It is not uncommon for workmen to skin their hands or knuckles in manipulating tools in such situations. This is avoided in the use of the wrench of my invention, and the removal and replacement of parts is greatly facilitated.

In the alternative arrangement shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the handle 4 is provided with a pair of arcuate openings which are spaced apart longitudinally of said handle adjacent the end thereof opposite the grip 5. said openings being adapted to receive arcuate lugs l5 which are provided at one end of socket I 6 and extend from said end axially of 'said socket, thus forming projecting 'continuations of the wall thereof.

The socket 16, Figs. 6 and 7, may be formed by punching out the interior I! of a cylindrical metal block, using suitable dies, and the outer ends of said lugs l5 after being inserted in the openings provided therefor in the handle 4, are riveted over, as shown at l8, said socket being positioned on the forward side of the handle 4, as in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.

The interior of the socket I6 is shown as having a. hexagonal cross sectional configuration, but this is optional as it may have any other desired cross sectional configuration in accordance to the use to which it is to be put. For example, said configuration may be square, octagonal, or it may be of the type shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

It is to be understood of course, that the tool may also be forged if desired.

I have illustrated and described my invention in highly practical embodiments thereof. While I have illustrated only one situation in which it is desirable for use, there are various situations in motor vehicles in which my wrench may be used to substantial advantage to the workman.

I claim:

1. A wrench comprising: a fiat, relatively thin bar-like handle having substantially parallel sides throughout its 1ength and having a pair of openings adjacent one end, said openings being spaced apart longitudinally of the handle, the other end of said handle having a portion turned to provide an angular grip; and a socket on the front side of the handle facing in the same direction as the grip, said socket comprising a generally tubular wall having a plurality of lugs extending longitudinally from one end, said lugs being received in the openings in said handle and riveted therein.

2. A wrench-comprising: a flat, relatively thin rigid bar-like handle having substantially parallel sides throughout the entire length and having a pair of openings adjacent one end, said openings being spaced apart longitudinally'of the handle, the other end of said handle having an angularly turned portion to provide a-grip;

and a socket comprising a generally tubular wall on the front side of the handle and facing in the same direction as said grip, said socket having lugs extending longitudinally from one end into the openings in said handle and; riveted therein,

the widthtof the handle being substantially the.

same as the diameterrof thesocket.

EARL M. CURTIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 710,538 Summerer et a1 Oct. 7, 1902 1,316,398 Steininger Sept. 16, 1919 1,38%65'5 Allmon JiflylZ, 1921 1,466,947 Bryant Sept. 4, 1923 1,618,046 Barb Feb. 15, 1927 1,712,473 McWethy May 7, 1929 2,023,733 Krause Dec. 10, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number v Country Date 499343" France Nov. 19, 1919 564,439. Great Britain Sept. 27, 1944 

